Top backers renew support for union at Nissan in Mississippi

The Nissan TITAN XD full-size pickup at the Canton, Mississippi, assembly facility. Workers at Nissan Motor Co.'s Mississippi plant will decide on Aug. 3 and 4 whether the United Auto Workers will represent them. (Image courtesy of Nissan North America)

CANTON, Miss. (AP) —

High profile backers of a union at Nissan's Mississippi plant are renewing their support for the United Auto Workers.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez addressed UAW supporters by videoconference Tuesday, two days before 3,700 workers begin voting on whether the UAW should represent them. Actor Danny Glover, a UAW supporter for years, traveled to Canton to meet with more than 50 workers at a UAW office.

Union supporters and opponents are battling over the vote, which ends Friday at one of three American plants owned by Japanese-based Nissan Motor Co. Management opposes the union, saying that it would hurt the plant's economic competitiveness.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and other Republicans have lambasted the support of Sanders, a Vermont independent and former Democratic presidential candidate.